Containers



"July 20, 1965 s. RJDEMPTEh ETAL 3,

CONTAINERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1962 INV EN 1 CR5 afe,

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JOf/NJFYMIPM 4..., M Mi A July 20, 1965 R. DEMPSTER ETAL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,195,942 CONTAINERS George R. Dempster, Knoxville, Tenn; Trust Company of Georgia, executor of said George R. Dempster, deceased, and John Saylor Dempster, Knoxville, Tenn, assignors to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn, a corporation of Tennessee Filed Sept. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 223,369 2 Claims. (Cl. 294-69) This invention relates to improvements in containers of the character used for the collection of refuse materials.

It has been the practice heretofore to provide containers for refuse, capable of being handled by equipment that would pick up and dump the contents from the container. One form of container used has been provided with a bottom discharge door adapted to be opened for discharging the contents from the body portion of the container while the latter is held in an elevated position. This type of equipment usually is provided for handling the container at the rear of a motor vehicle. Another form of equipment is of the type adapted to pick up the container and to discharge its contents into a body supported by the vehicle on which the loader is mounted. This type of equipment usually has the loader operating at the front end of the vehicle and the contents are discharged by inverting the container to an upside down position.

Various attempts have been made heretofore to provide containers for use selectively by either type of. equipment described, some of which have been subject to one objection or another.

One object of this invention is to improve the construction of containers adapted for selective use with either type of handling equipment described and for discharge of the contents either through a bottom discharge opening or through a top opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide sleeves within the end walls of the container spaced above the bottom thereof for selective engagement by front end loading equipment and in a container in which there is a bottom discharge door capable of being opened for use of the container by an alternate type of handling equipment.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of the invention, by providing a containerwith a body portion having an opening at the top and at the bottom thereof for selective discharge of the contents through said openings. A bottom discharge door is used for normally tending to close the bottom opening and having means thereon for detachable engagement by the hoisting unit to lift the container and holding the body portion of the container in an elevated position during transportation. Provision should be made for locking the bottom discharge door in closed position and there by to prevent the discharge of the refuse through the bottom opening when the container is elevated by another type of equipment.

Mounted within the end walls of the container are elongated sleeves, which sleeves are open at one side of the container for access thereto by lifting forks normally pro vided on a front end loader device. The sleeves may extend partly or entirely to the opposite side of the container and may have open or closed ends at said lastrnentioned side of the container. These sleeves should be fixed rigidly to the inside faces of the end Walls and so disposed in spaced relation above the bottom that the 3,195,942 Patented July 20, 1965 "ice operator within the cab of the vehicle can have full visibility thereto for engaging the forks with the sleeves during picking up and dumping of the container.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: I

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a motor vehicle having a front end loader applied thereto for engaging the container during picking up or dumping the contents;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the container embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through one of the sleeves on the line 44 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross section therethrough on the line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

The container according to this invention may be used, for example, with the type of equipment shown in Dempster et al. Patent No. 2,751,100, granted June 19, 1956, or alternatively, the type shown in Jones Patent No. 2,772,919, granted December 4, 1956. In these forms, the container is picked up at the rear of the vehicle, transported to a remote point and its contents are dumped therefrom by discharge through an opening in the bottom of the container. Thereafter, the container is returned by the same equipment to the same or a different point for refilling.

Alternatively, the container according to this invention may be used with the type of front end loader equipment disclosed in Dempster et al. Patent No. 2,900,096, granted August 18, 1959. This form is illustrated in FIG. 1, as an example of the type of equipment with which the invention may be used.

In the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1 there is a motor vehicle chassis generally indicated by the numeral 1, having a vehicle cab 2 enclosing the engine and the operators compartment of the vehicle. A body 3 is mounted on the chassis 1 and has an openiing in the top thereof for receiving the refuse therethrough.

The front end loader equipment mounted on the-chassis 1 or body 3 comprises a pair of clearance arms 4 located at opposite sides of the cab 2 and pivotally mounted at 5 at points substantially behind the vehicle cab. Power devices, such as hydraulic cylinders, are shown at 6 for manipulating the clearance arms 4. A pair of forks 7 are mounted at the front ends of the clearance arms 4 and are adapted to be moved selectively relative thereto, as for example, by power devices 8.

The container constructed according to this invention comprises a body portion including side walls 9 and 10 and opposite end walls 11. The bottom of the body portion is capable of being opened and has a bottom dis charge door, indicated at 12, hinged at 13 substantially at the lower edge of the side wall 9.

The bottom door 12 has end segments 14 fixed thereon fitting into cut-out portions 15 in the end walls 11. This bottom door 14 also has lifting pins 16 connected therewith, as for example, by being attached to the segments 14 in the illustrated embodiment. These lifting pins 16 may be used for lifting the container when this is to-be handled by one type of hoisting equipment, as for example, that shown in Dempster et al. Patent No. 2,751,100 and l ones Patent No. 2,772,919.

With the type of equipment referred to and as disclosed more clearly in said patents, the door 12 is opened to discharge the contents of the container. The hoisting equipment is provided with a lifting hook in position to e the container. 7

ing opening of the bottom door 12 to discharge the conj tents from the container when that type of hoisting unit engage with a bail, such asithat indicated at 17 in FIG.

3, and located within a recess 18 in the side wall9 of,

This hook supports the bodyportion duris employed. I

Means are shown, according to this invention, for securiing the bottom door 12in a closed position. Any siutable form of means for this purpose may be used, one form shown comprising a toggle catch 19at'each'opposite end of the door in position to engage a hook 20 011 each end wall 11. This will secure the door in} closed position engage behindthe end portion-27 ofthe spacer. 26 free of contact'with the upper wall of the sleeve, as Well as to --anchor'the container against endwise displacement with.

" respect to the fork.- This spacer 26 'may be. made of somewhat heavier'materialtlian the Wall of the sleeve if found desirable. I

In handling a container constructed according to this I invention will front end loader equipment, the forks 7 when it is notdesiredfthat it be opened for discharging the contents. Other forms .of fastening means therefor are shown in the patent'application of. Henry C. French a,

a1. Serial No. 102,002, filed April 27, 1961, now abandoned.

- are engaged in the sleeves 22 as the vehicle approaches the container toward the Wallv 9. The sleeves 22 are spaced appreciably upward from the bottom discharge door 12 and approximately at the upper edges of the end walls 11 so as to be readily visibleto the operator of the vehicle within the cabs 2, thus facilitating the supporting The container constructed according to this invention 1 may be provided with any suitable superstructure, such as that. designated generally at gl landwhich is mounted. upon and extends above the top. of the end'walls 11 and closing thetop structure as desired. When constructed according to this invention, the container. should have an opening in: the top capable of discharging the contents therefrom, and if doors be. employed to close theiopenj- .above the sidewalls 9 and 10, iDoors maybe used for mg, theseshou-ld be capable of being opened readily for J this purpose, as for example,'by being hinged .in the manner illustrated in the drawings. j

To adapt the container to its capability o'f being handled by the" front end loader equipment, as for 'exam-, ple that whichis illustrated in FIG. 1, fork sleeves are p provided on the end walls 11in positions tore'ceive there inthe forks 7 of the loader equipment." Eachof the fork sleeves 22 comprises a channel which extends transversely of the container alongthe inner face of each end wall 11 from the side wall 9, being as shown in FIG. 4.

The sleeve formed by the channel 22" may be con structed' according to the illustrated embodiment, with the edges of the channel turned toward the plate forming the endIwall 11 and preferably'welded thereto. so as to open through the latterwall I secure the sleeve to the end wall. In the eventthat thev end wallill has an offset, such as is shownat 23 between the end Wall '11, and the superstructure '21, this sleeve should be; anchored to the end wall directly beneath this offset portion 23 so as to give added strength to the sleeve for lifting the container. This makespossible the use of lighter-gauge material and yet provides a secure structure, having the advantage of the offset portion of the endv wall plate surmounted over. thesleeve. Thesleeve need I not extend throughout the Width of the container, :but from its open end at theside wall 9, thesleeve is shown as extending part way of the width thereof. However, to avoid the entrance of refuse into' the sleeve, it ,is'pro-. vided preferably with an end closure 24* at the, opposite end unless, of course'fthe sleeve extends throughout the width ofthe container. 1 The'sleeve 22 is strengthened in inforcing gusset, indicated. at 25, extending betweenthe inner corner thereof and the end Wall 11, as .shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This reinforcing gussetv further strengthens the sleeve and aids in'm-aking it sturdy and rigid, even though relatively thin materialbe 'used' for the purpose.

' A sleeve spacer. is' shown at 26 extending approximately diagonally relative to the length of the sleeve 22 from the open end of the sleeve toward but spacedfrom the 0p- 7 posite end thereof.. This spacer '26 isfformed of a: plate that extends transversely from side tos'id'e of the sleeve 22', with an upturned end 27 abutting against the top'of the. sleeve and welded or, otherwise secured thereto, as.

rther. by having are of thecontainer. v t

Then, upon operation of the hydraulicpower devices 6, the lifting arms-4 swing upward above'the axis of the pivot 5 to raise the container-to a dumping position over theopening provided in the top of the body3. .The container is turned upside down in discharging'the material through the open top thereof. Thereafter, the container can be set on the ground in front of the vehicle andlatter backed-'oif'a'nd moved to another contain-er. Throughout this action of 'the front endflloader equipment, the latches 19.should fasten the door 12 closed.

If thecontainer is" to be handled by the other type of equipment as described, the equipment is provided with flexible devices that engage the lifting pins 16 to raise V V the container to' an elevatedposition onthe vehicle and 30v tomove it to the point of dumping. Then, upon release of the latches 19 andthe engagement ofthe hook with the bail 17,:the body portion can be held, inan elevated position while the door 12 is' opened to discharge the contents through the open bottom of thecontainer. After closing thedoor, the container can be returned to a point of It will be apparent that a container constructed. ac-

: cording tothisinvention is capable of use with either type of hoisting equipment as described. Moreover, thecon- 'tainers built for one type ofhoisting equipment, as for in one .embodimenhit is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in theclaims. a

1 We claim'z r i 1. A container of the character. described, comprising a body'pjortion-including opposite end walls and a side wall,a bottom discharge door hinged to the body por- 7 tionadjacent the lower edge of the side Wall for downward swinging movement relative thereto, said bottom door including upturned end sections, means connected "1 with the end sections and located externally of the end walls for supportin'g'the containen latcht means intercom necting the end Walls with the upturned'endsections and securing the .door in closedrelation, and lifting; sleeves for the container, said sleeves extending along the inner faces'of theend .walls in direct;abutting relation thereto and spaced appreciably: above-the bottom d oor'so as not to interferetrwith opening movement of the door, said is also the opposite end of the spacer-26. This' spa ce'r' ilfi holds the lifting fork 7 awa'y from the top wall .of'the. I

sleeve and it also acommodatesthe projection shown at" 28- on the end of the fork 7, enabling therprojection: to

sleeves having-openings through the side wall-for inset-- t ion of lifting forks therethrough; 1 I i l 2; Acont'ainerjac'cording to claim l, including a spacer member extending lengthwise of each sleeve from the openiendlthereof toward the: opposite end and spaced from the latter, said spacer member being adjacent the.

5 upper surface of the sleeve and inclined downwardly at an acute angle relative thereto in position to guide the lifting fork into the sleeve and to hold the container on the fork.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,454 9/41 Bomar 214-621 X 2,369,722 2/45 Dempster 214 317 2,596,908 5/52 McIntryre et al. 294-69 X 10 King 220-15 X Balwics 214-621 Mercier et al. 214-620 X Dempster et a1 214302 Dempster et al 214-302 Dempster et a1 2143 17 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, ERNEST A. FALLER, 112.,

Examiners. 

1. A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING A BODY PORTION INCLUDING OPPOSITE END WALLS AND A SIDE WALL, A BOTTOM DISCHARGE DOOR HINGED TO THE BODY PORTION ADJACENT THE LOWER EDGE OF THE SIDE WALL FOR DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT RELATIVE THERETO, SAID BOTTOM DOOR INCLUDING UPTURNED END SECTION, MEANS CONNECTED WITH THE END SECTIONS AND LOCATED EXTERNALLY OF THE END WALLS FOR SUPPORTING THE CONTAINER, LATCH MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE END WALLS WITH THE UPTURNED END SECTIONS AND SECURING THE DOOR IN CLOSED RELATION, AND LIFTING SLEEVES FOR THE CONTAINER, SAID SLEEVES EXTENDING ALONG THE INNER FACES OF THE END WALLS IN DIRECT ABUTTING RELATION THERETO AND SPACED APPRECIABLY ABOVE THE BOTTOM DOOR SO AS NOT TO INTERFERE WITH OPENING MOVEMENT OF THE DOOR, SAID SLEEVE HAVING OPENINGS THROUGH THE SIDE WALL FOR INSERTION OF LIFTING FORKS THERETHROUGH. 